This came on one of the lists I'm on. Perhaps it will help someone in dating an ancestor by a signature on old documents. I didn't realize that at age 14, they could do the things listed. - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ------------------------------------ Under English Common Law practiced in the 18th Century Colonies.............. .....at 14, Males (and age 12, that's "12" folks, for females), one could: Witness documents Testify in Court Select their own Guardian Serve as an Apprentice Be punished for a crime Show land to a Processioners SIGN CONTRACTS ACT AS AN EXECUTOR BEQUEATH PROPERTY BY WILL .....at 16, Males could: Be listed as Tithable (umph.....not sure todays cretins know where is church is) Be Mustered into the Militia Serve as Processioners TAKE POSSESION OF LAND HOLDINGS (umph.....I won't even let my daughters drive my car) .....at 18, Males could: Be licensed to practice a trade .....at 21, for Males & 18 for Females, one could: Release their Guardian (or at Marriage) Be Married without parential (or guardian) consent (umph....."Parental Consent"....is that an oxymoron?) .....at 21, Males could: Plead/Sue in Court Own Land Devise Land by Will Be eligible for most Public Offices Serve on a Jury VOTE Happy Holidays! Ethel Taylor Bandony1@cs.com 55500 Bates Rd. Bandon, OR 97411 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& The mistakes we make in life are not as important as the lessons we draw from them CRISP-L, PRINCE-L, OKKIOWA-L Searching: ASHLEY/CRISP/PRINCE/CARTER/CHERRY/IVY/THETFORD/WARRICK/TENNELL/WATERS http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/4231/ Kiowa Co. OK, Kiowa-Comanche-Apache Reservation, Cheyenne-Arapaho Reservation, Civil War In Indian Territory http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/1263/